Software Development Manager - Liverpool in Ashley

We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to join our Liverpool FC team as a Manager, Software Development. This role blends hands-on delivery with technical leadership across the frontend domain. You will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust frontend solutions, including component development, API and backend integrations, and the accurate implementation of designs.

In addition, you will define frontend standards, guide implementation approaches, and ensure consistency and quality across both in-house and third-party teams.

What will you be doing?

• Frontend Development
  • Lead frontend development across Liverpool FC digital products, working in React/Next.js and Vue/Nuxt as required.
  • Design and deliver robust frontend solutions that integrate effectively with APIs, backend platforms, headless CMS platforms, and third-party services.
  • Implement designs from Figma accurately, while identifying and raising technical, performance, or feasibility concerns at an early stage.
  • Set a strong standard for frontend development practices across component design, state management, rendering strategy, and integration with backend systems.
  • Lead frontend input into sprint planning, estimation, and technical refinement, helping shape implementation approaches for upcoming work.
• Frontend Standards and Technical Direction
  • Define, maintain, and drive adherence to frontend development standards across Liverpool FC frontend codebases.
  • Establish clear expectations for code quality, maintainability, testing, accessibility, performance, and security across frontend delivery.
  • Guide the adoption of appropriate frontend patterns, tooling, and implementation approaches in line with long-term maintainability and delivery needs.
  • Promote consistency across products where appropriate, while recognising differing product and platform requirements.
  • Identify areas for improvement across frontend architecture, development practice, and developer experience, and lead actions to address them.
• Code Quality and Testing
  • Lead code review practices for in-house and external partner frontend work, providing clear and constructive feedback and ensuring expected standards are met.
  • Ensure automated testing is embedded in normal frontend delivery, including unit and integration coverage where appropriate.
  • Work with QA to support thorough testing of changes and improve release quality over time.
  • Ensure delivered solutions are maintainable, well structured, and suitable for long-term support.
• Performance, Scalability and Accessibility
  • Lead the delivery of frontend solutions with performance and scalability in mind, applying techniques including code splitting, lazy loading, bundle optimisation, caching strategies, and appropriate SSR/SSG approaches.
  • Understand and apply appropriate caching and optimisation strategies for a large-scale global audience, including browser, CDN, and edge caching approaches.
  • Diagnose and resolve frontend performance issues in production, including under high-traffic conditions.
  • Ensure accessibility standards are met across frontend work, in line with WCAG guidelines.
• Working with External Partners
  • Provide day-to-day frontend technical direction to third party development partners as part of a blended delivery model.
  • Review partner-delivered frontend work and challenge implementation where required to ensure alignment with Liverpool FC standards.
  • Communicate clearly around implementation expectations covering architecture, maintainability, testing, performance, accessibility, and security.
  • Drive consistency of frontend development practice across internal and external teams in line with agreed development standards.
  • Contribute to the evaluation and onboarding of new frontend tooling, libraries, or services where required.
• Team Contribution
  • Share knowledge with other frontend developers and help raise frontend capability across the team over time.
  • Support less experienced developers through guidance, review, and day-to-day technical collaboration.
  • Promote stronger frontend development discipline and knowledge sharing across the wider development group.
  • Work across multiple digital products as required, based on sprint and delivery priorities.
  • Maintain technical documentation for frontend standards, patterns, and owned areas of implementation.
  • Undertake other projects, requests or duties as assigned from time to time by the Development Lead.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will bring proven experience as a Senior Frontend Developer working on complex digital products or platforms, with a strong track record of delivering frontend solutions within an Agile product environment, including sprint planning, estimation and technical refinement. They will have experience defining and maintaining frontend development standards across teams or multiple codebases, providing technical direction and oversight to other developers, and working effectively with external development partners or distributed teams.

A strong understanding of frontend performance optimisation is essential, including diagnosing and resolving production issues, alongside a solid grasp of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their practical application. The role also requires an understanding of GDPR and data privacy considerations as they relate to frontend development, excellent communication skills when working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and familiarity with tools such as Jira and Confluence.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with React and Next.js, including SSR and headless CMS integrations, complemented by solid working knowledge of Vue.js and Nuxt, as well as strong JavaScript and TypeScript skills. They will demonstrate a strong command of modern CSS, including responsive layouts, animation and component-level styling, with a sharp eye for visual detail and accurate implementation from design. Experience integrating frontend applications with REST and GraphQL APIs, working with headless CMS platforms (ideally Contentful), writing automated unit and integration tests, and an understanding of frontend build tooling, CI/CD pipelines, environment management, caching strategies, and CDN behaviour is also required, along with familiarity with GitHub for version control and code management.

Why should you apply?

This is a full-time permanent role working 35 hours per week. Your main base will be our Chapel Street Office. Please note, this vacancy may close early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

To reward your hard work and commitment we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays and the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days) and access to our benefits kit bag which includes but not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme matching up to 5.5%
• Life Assurance Cover
• Free financial guidance and mortgage advice
• Car salary sacrifice scheme for affordable driving
• Cycle to Work scheme to keep you active
• Purchase season ticket loans for easier commuting
• Exclusive shopping discounts & cashback with top retailers
• Will Writing Service for future planning
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support
• Medicash Health Cash Plan for everyday healthcare needs
• Volunteering opportunities to give back to the community
• Special LFC perks: retail discounts, partner offers, free LFCTV GO access, and priority tickets for matches, events & concerts and much more!

At Liverpool Football Club, we have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and are always looking to making a positive difference in the communities that we operate within. We are proud of our achievements in this area; maintaining the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level, becoming a founding signatory of the Football Associations Football Leadership Diversity Code and being recognised as a leader in this important area on and off the pitch. We take our responsibilities in this area seriously and through the work being done across the club, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our people and becoming an increasingly inclusive workplace for all. We are committed to hiring great people representative of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills across our entire business. If you share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusivity, then we want to hear from you.

Liverpool FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all Colleagues and Volunteers to share this commitment.